Gayles Sisters Are Pride of Brevard, Stanford Bound

By  //  June 9, 2014

daughters of Dr. Richard Gayles and wife Daryth

ABOVE VIDEO: Daryth Gayles nails a 20-foot Long Jump during the 2014 state Regional track meet.

BREVRAD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Two of the state of Florida’s top athletes just happen to be sisters and happen to be twins.

GAYLES-TWINS-388-1The daughters of Dr. Richard Gayles and his wife Daryth, Holy Trinity seniors Daryth and Gaby Gayles have been inseparable most of their lives and will continue their college careers together at one of the most prestigious academic and athletic institutions in the country – Stanford University.

“While Daryth and Gabrielle have been blessed with good minds and strong bodies their accomplishments on the track, in the classroom and in the music studio are due to their drive to be the best they can be in all that they do,” said the girl’s mom, Daryth.

“They work hard, pushing themselves beyond what is expected to reach the high goals they set for themselves.  I have never had to go on edline to make sure they do their assignments, make sure they study for a test or check their homework.”

Daughter Daryth says the recruiting process was both hectic and overwhelming at the beginning.

Daryth Gayle
Daryth Gayle

“Coaches began contacting us by email, however, it was extremely exciting to be contacted by a wide variety of college coaches and to have so many different options and so many amazing opportunities. In a way, the recruiting process signaled the beginning of the next stage of our lives, academically and athletically.”

For Gaby, the process was an eye-opener. While other runners around the country stressed over where they would attend, she didn’t have to. She and her sister were able to choose from the best schools in the country.

The number one factor for them was academics, and a school of high academic caliber. In addition to Stanford, the  two took official visits to Ivy League schools Harvard, Princeton and Columbia.

INCREDIBLE FAMILY: Twins Gabrielle and Daryth Gayles, center, with their mom, Daryth Stallone, left, siblings Giana and Lauryn, and dad Dr. RIchard Gayles at the twin’s graduation from Holy Trinity this spring. (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)
INCREDIBLE FAMILY: Twins Gabrielle and Daryth Gayles, center, with their mom, Daryth Stallone, left, siblings Giana and Lauryn, and dad Dr. Richard Gayles at the twin’s graduation from Holy Trinity this spring. (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)

ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS BALANCE DETERMINING FACTOR

Daryth said the balance of academics and athletics the California school provided was key.

“My sister and I have always been academically oriented, but track and field is very important to us as well,” said Daryth.  “Stanford is elite as an academic institution as well as an elite athletic institution.”

Gaby echoes her sister’s sentiments and said she’s worked hard over the years at Holy Trinity to put herself in the position to get into a great academic school.

Gabby Gales
Gabby Gayles

“Stanford has top notch academics comparable with that of the Ivy League schools, but also great athletics,” said Gaby.

“Athletics are also a huge part of my life, and they were also a big factor in my decision. Hence, a strong balance between these two things was very important to me, and I felt that Stanford was the perfect mixture of great academics and a strong athletic program.”

The duo sees similarities in Holy Trinity, where they have attended since the seventh grade.

SCHOLAR ATHLETES: Both Daryth, left, and Gaby have over 4.0 grade point averages in the classroom, and have won three team titles as members of the Holy Trinity Tigers’ track and field program. (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)
SCHOLAR ATHLETES: Both Daryth, left, and Gaby have over 4.0 grade point averages in the classroom, and have won three team titles as members of the Holy Trinity Tigers’ track and field program. (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)

Both Daryth and Gaby have over 4.0 grade point averages in the classroom, and have won three team titles as members of the Tigers’ track and field program.

Individually, Daryth has picked up two 1A state titles in the 100 meters and sister Gaby has three 400 meter crowns. They also have been a part of three champion 4×100 meter relay teams.

Holy Trinity coach Doug Butler says Stanford is getting a pair of gems in the Gayles girls.

Doug Butler
Doug Butler

“They are 4.5 GPA students that are all business,” said Butler.

“Stanford is getting the cream of the crop, and I think they know that. These two girls were recruited by more schools than any other athlete I have had, and that should say something there as we have had a few stellar runners.”

LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW CHALLENGES 

Daryth said she isn’t looking forward to one thing in particular, rather the experience as a whole. She says she can’t wait to meet new people, be a part of a new team, improve in track and field, and tackle interesting and challenging courses. For Gaby, the competitive aspect fuels her fire.

“Most of all, I am looking forward to being in a competitive sprinting environment with other girls who are elite athletes,” said Gaby. “The incoming freshman track team at Stanford is a very talented group of girls.”

‘I think that I will remember a lot of the big moments, such as the state meets,” said Daryth. “However, I will remember a lot of the little moments as well, especially the many fun times my teammates and I have shared at meets and at practice. I want to thank my teammates and my coaches for making my experience special.”

Daryth and Gaby Gayles with their Holy Trinity and summer track sprint coach, Marcus Bailey. “Daryth and Gaby have been a huge part of our track program for almost six years now,” said Holy Trinity track coach Doug Butler. (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)
Daryth and Gaby Gayles with their Holy Trinity and summer track sprint coach, Marcus Bailey. “Daryth and Gaby have been a huge part of our track program for almost six years now,” said Holy Trinity track coach Doug Butler. (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)

Gaby said out of all of her years being on the Holy Trinity track team she will remember most her coaches and the fun times she’s had with those teammates.

“Daryth and Gaby have been a huge part of our track program for almost six years now,” said Butler.

“They were stars when they got here and we knew that they were going to be big-time runners from the first year on. Daryth and Gaby are simply not replaceable. From the 100, 200, 400, 4×100 and long jump, they have been dominate forces and are going to be two girls you will read a great deal about in the future. Stanford is the perfect program for them to thrive.”

Daryth and Gabrielle with their mom Daryth, who said, “while Daryth and Gabrielle have been blessed with good minds and strong bodies their accomplishments on the track, in the classroom and in the music studio are due to their drive to be the best they can be in all that they do.” (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)
Daryth and Gabrielle with their mom Daryth, who said, “while Daryth and Gabrielle have been blessed with good minds and strong bodies their accomplishments on the track, in the classroom and in the music studio are due to their drive to be the best they can be in all that they do.” (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)

The girls’ mom and dad, Daryth and Rick, obviously set the expectation for their success, but take none of the credit. Rick, a partner with Florida Pain Institute, has been a well-respected physician in Brevard County for more than 20 years.

“They are remarkable young women and I am so very proud of all that they have achieved, but most importantly I am so blessed that they are kind, caring and trustworthy daughters, sisters and friends,” said Daryth.

“While I can by no measure claim to be responsible for all their successes, I hope that my undivided love peppered with lots of reading, very little TV,  and my encouragement that they always do their best has helped to mold who they are today.”